26 April 2013

The government of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has responded to almost two years of protests and demonstrations with "arbitrary arrests, detention and torture," according to the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, reports the Sudan Tribune. The popular uprisings began in January 2011 as part of the "Arab Spring" that toppled governments in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen.

Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services are reportedly blocking "online access to popular electronic newspapers and websites" and "confiscat[ing] printed materials"—including hundreds of copies of a pro-gay novel. Sudan is one of four African nations that boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity.

On 7 October the NISS confiscated two thousand books written by
Abdal Aziz Baraka Sakin from the 8th International Book Fair
held in Khartoum. The International Book Fair was held from 6 -
18 October 2012. Mr. Baraka is an emerging young Sudanese
writer whose work focuses on diversity in Sudanese life and culture,
particularly illuminating the daily lives of marginalised and hidden
groups in Sudan. His novel Algango Masamir Alardh discusses Sudan’s gay
community. Other work addresses the plight of street children.

On the
morning of 7 October, a large security presence was noticed at the Book
Fair. [3500] books by Mr. Baraka were confiscated later in the
day [including] 400 copies of Algango Masamir Alardh (“Nails on the Ground”), 300 copies of Maseeh Darfur (“Jesus of Darfur”), 450 copies of Memory of the Alkhandaris, 250 copies of Women from Kampo Khadis...

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has charged President Omar al-Bashir with genocide and war crimes. So far, at least 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5
million displaced in the civil war between the Khartoum government and
Darfur provinces.

20 August 2012

Cyber activists or "hacktivists" have attacked government websites across Africa to protest anti-LGBT laws that discriminate, imprison or even condemn gays and lesbians across the continent, reports Gay Star News, Radio Netherlands Worldwide and Zambian Watchdog. The coordinated attacks have targeted Botswana, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda in an operation known as #OpFuckAfrica.

The Anonymous and TheEliteSociety hacking groups have launched a joint all-out attack against countries in Africa that kill or imprison LGBT people. The groups promise more websites will be hacked in African states that oppress LGBT rights. Last Thursday, hacktivists hacked the website of Botswana’s Export Development and Investment Authority, and leaked its database. Somalia’s TV Network and Gurmad company websites were also hacked.

Just last week saw the hackers taking over Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi’s website. They posted a fictitious statement on the site in which Mbabazi apologised for his government’s anti-gay stance and expressed his support for the recent Uganda gay Pride week.

The hacktivists have apparently singled out Sudan for the most damage. Sudan is one of four African nations that boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity. The other three are Mauritania, Nigeria and Somalia. "Cyber activists have hacked 73 official government websites in Sudan, including the president's, as they continue to demand LGBT people in Africa are given rights," reports Gay Star News.

Last week's cyber-attack against the Ugandan governement targeted 'the prime minister's office, Parliament, the Uganda Securities Exchange and Uganda Law Society, a government statement said," according to Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

Homosexuality is punishable by up to life in prison in Uganda, which has been condemned by the international community for its state-sponsored anti-gay terror campaign. Parliament has revived the extreme Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which seeks the death penalty or life imprisonment for anyone caught engaging in homosexual acts for a second time.

Same-sex acts are currently illegal in at least 38 of 54 African countries. South Africa and Seychelles are the only African nations that protect LGBT rights. SA is also the only African nation to guarantee marriage equality and gay adoption.

30 January 2012

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged African leaders to respect the rights of their gay and lesbian citizens. Some African nations have treated gays like "second-class citizens or even criminals", the UN chief declared Sunday at the opening of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"Let me mention one form of discrimination that has been ignored or even sanctioned by many states for far too long, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This has prompted some governments to treat people as second-class citizens, or even criminals. Confronting this discrimination is a challenge. But we must live up to the ideas of the Universal Declaration. ... The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a promise to all people in all places at all times."

Same-sex acts are currently illegal in at least 38 of 54 African countries. Four nations—Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan—boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity. South Africa and Seychelles are the only African nations that protect LGBT rights. South Africa is also the only African nation to guarantee marriage equality.

In recent months both the United States and the United Kingdom have warned they would use foreign aid to push for decriminalization of same-sex relations across the socially conservative continent. Africa boasts two-thirds of the world's HIV/AIDS cases. Many experts believe the prohibitions against homosexuality discourage many HIV positive gay African men from seeking treatment.

The African Union summit opens as tensions and violence are escalating across the continent. Nigeria has been rocked by terrorism and sectarian violence that has killed hundreds. The growing tension between Sudan and South Sudan and the war in Somalia are also expected to be major discussion points.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has referred the southern African nation of Malawi to the UN Security Council for refusing to arrest Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir.

Malawi and Chad hosted Bashir in October for trade summits. This was despite the fact there is an outstanding ICC arrest warrant for Bashir on charges of war crimes and genocide in Sudan's Darfur region.

Malawi, the court said, argued that customary international law creates an exception for heads of state wanted for international crimes. "The judges noted that immunity for heads of state before international courts has been rejected time and time again dating all the way back to World War I," the court said.

Bashir's case is fast becoming a regional flash point. "Many African leaders accuse the ICC of only investigating alleged war crimes in Africa and ignoring those committed elsewhere," notes the BBC. Last week, the Ivory Coast's ex-president became the first former head of state to face judges at the ICC.

Chad, Kenya and Djibouti have also been referred to the UN Security Council for refusing to arrest Mr Bashir, even though they recognise the ICC.

Last month, a Kenyan court criticised the government for failing to arrest Mr Bashir when he visited in August and issued its own warrant. Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said the government would appeal against the ruling and it would not arrest Mr Bashir if he visited again. "We have voiced concerns about the manner in which the ICC has been pursuing African leaders and leaving leaders with much, much heavier responsibility of human rights and murderous actions," he said, pointing to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So far, at least 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5 million displaced in the civil war between the Khartoum government and Darfur provinces.

In related news: Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda has been officially elected as the ICC's new chief prosecutor . Bensouda becomes the first African to "hold the top post at a time when the ICC is almost exclusively focused on the continent," reports Al Jazeera.